By Kelvin Obambon
Padbank Mobile Outreach, the Network of Persons Living with Diabetes in Nigeria (NPLDN), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, and other development partners on Friday, November 14, converged at the Millennium Park, Calabar to mark this year’s World Diabetes Day, with a call on government to increase funding, end stigmatisation, and ensure proper utilisation of the Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) tax proceeds for non-communicable diseases.
The event, held under the global theme of “Diabetes and Well-being” and a local focus on “Diabetes in the Workplace,” served as an advocacy platform to address the mounting challenges faced by over 11.2 million estimated persons living with the disease in Nigeria.
Flagging off the campaign, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, pledged to convey the message to the government for increased budgetary allocation.
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The Commissioner who was represented by Mrs. Roseline Ogar, Director of Nursing Services in the Ministry, emphasized the need for holistic support for patients, stating that “In the workplace, most of our diabetic patients, when they complain about being broken down or they are going to the hospital for their checkup, they are being mocked, they are being stigmatized. It is high time we accept those with diabetes, live well with them, support them psychologically, support them physically, and give them holistic care.”
He stressed that preventing the disease is as crucial as managing it, advising the public that diabetes is not infectious but can be hereditary or due to lifestyle factors like a sedentary life and unhealthy eating.
The advocacy, spearheaded by the Executive Director of Padbank Mobile Outreach, Comrade Archibong Bassey, highlighted the critical need for policy intervention.
According to her, “Diabetes is no respecter of persons. That’s why Padbank mobile outreach and the NUJ, are standing in solidarity with the Network of Persons Living with Diabetes to call for a stronger policy action to tackle the rising cost of dealing with diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.”
Bassey who is the Chairman of NUJ, called on the public to get screened, urging, “Please go have yourself screened. Know your status.”
In his address, Comrade Bernard Enyia, National Coordinator, Network of Persons Living with Diabetes in Nigeria, lamented government’s perceived neglect of the disease. He described diabetes as a health care component that “have been relegated to the background by government.”
Enyia expressed sadness over the non-observance of the annual World Diabetes Day by government, the huge out-of-pocket expenditures for patients, and the absence of intervention in state and federal health sector budgets.
He also raised concerns about the SSBs tax revenue, stating that “At the federal level, funds from the sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) tax deductions by Nigeria Custom Service has not been utilize or channel into the health component of non-communicable diseases.”
On his part, Chief Executive Officer of African Dignity Foundation, Leader Ben Usang, examined the profound impact of the disease on human dignity.
“My organization, the African Dignity Foundation, believes that those who are not able to have resources to treat diabetes are in a situation of indignity,” he stated, referencing complications like severe sores and medical issues that threaten a person’s dignity.
Leader Usang assured the network of his organisation’s continued support, saying, “We are supporting this network and will continue to support this network until this message is heard.”
Meanwhile, the second part of the event commemorating the day involved the free distribution of sanitary pads to female students at the government secondary school, Nsemo, Ikot Ishie and as well as free blood sugar screening of both teachers and students of the school.
